Have you ever wondered what goes into the cosmetics that you apply to your skin every day?

Most of the major cosmetic brands contain some of the following ingredients; heavy metals such as lead, nano-particles, talc, artificial colours and fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates. One thing all these ingredients have in common is that they are all toxic and applying them to your skin every day can build up in your body over time and cause some serious health issues such as allergies, cancer and even damage to the endocrine system.

It might be time to ditch the contents of your make-up bag and switch to natural or organic alternatives. Here are a few hints to help you rid those toxic cosmetics!

1. Look for certified organic cosmetics. Cosmetic companies need to meet a certain standard before they are allowed to use these symbols on their products. This can be easily identified by a logo on the label. Australian Certified Organic (ACO), Organic Food Chain (OFC) or The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASSA) all have their own logos that can be found on the labels of products that meet their standards. Products that state they are ‘organic’ without these logos do not really mean anything and may contain chemicals.

2. If you can’t find organic products, then look for ones that are 100% natural. There are many products which contain organic ingredients with other natural ingredients due to the inability to source everything organic. This is still much better than their chemical counterparts.

3. Check the ingredients list. Look for ingredients like mineral oil (petroleum), parabens, talc or fragrances and avoid these. Contact the company and ask for more information about their ingredients if you are unsure of any they have listed.

4. Do your own research and decide what is best for you. There are many helpful blogs and websites that contain bucket loads of information on cosmetics. Safe Cosmetics Australia has information on their website about chemicals to avoid and they also list safe cosmetic brands that meet their requirements.

Inika, Zuii Organic and La Mav are some of our favourite Australian organic cosmetics and some are even are available right here in the clinic. Each of these brands has organic certifications and offers a range of cosmetics from foundations to concealers, BB creams and blushers, mascaras and eyeliners.

Taking the time to learn what is in your cosmetics and keeping your beauty regime simple is the best way to ensure you are using clean and safe products. Your skin and health will thank you for it!